Booyah! ESPN and EA Sign Agreement for Sports Games (thanks Frans) announces another sports signing for EA, as they have inked an exclusive 15-year deal with ESPN for their established sports simulations, as well as "new sports games to be published by EA based on ESPN media properties" (ESPN the magazine - the game?). Here's a bit:

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2005--Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS - News) and ESPN today announced a long-term agreement for the development and integrated marketing of EA SPORTS games containing ESPN content. The relationship will include established EA SPORTS franchises -- which will be enhanced by ESPN telecast, print and online content -- as well as new sports games to be published by EA based on ESPN media properties. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The agreement gives EA access to ESPN programming, personalities and integrated marketing opportunities on ESPN television programming and other ESPN properties. The ESPN integration will appear in EA SPORTS console, handheld, PC and wireless games beginning in 2006 upon the conclusion of ESPN's existing video game licensing commitments.

On this topic, EA teams up with ESPN, Madden on the way out? on CNN Money speculates that this may mean an end (boom!) to the John Madden Football series.